Fruit pitting machine



im 18, E95@ H. A. SKO@ FRUIT FITTING NLACHINE:`

Original Filed Deo. 14, 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 1 NVENTOR HENRY A.' SKOG l MOORE, PRANGLEVS CLAYTON ATTORNEYS March I8, 95 H. A. SKOG 8279085 FRUIT FITTING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 14, 1950 13 Sheets-Shea?, 2

INVENTOR.

HENRY A. SKOG MOORE, PRANGLEV CL A ro/v A TTOR/vrs 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Dec. 14, 1950 @www INVENTOR.

HENRY A. SKOG MOORE) PRANGLEV CLAYTON A rop/vers Man-ch 38, 1958 H. A. SKO@ FRUIT FITTING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Dec. 14, 1950 :IH MSWN. O m @50N O QE @ww INVENTOR. HENRY A. SKOG.

MOO/PE) PRA/VGLEV CLAYTON ATTORNEYS March 18, E958 H, A SKO@ FRUIT FITTING MACHINE.

13 Sheets-Shea?I 5 Original Filed Dec. 14. 1950 INVENTOR.

HENRY A.- SKOG MOORE, PRANGLEV j @LAI/70N ATTORNEYS H. A. sKoG FRUIT FITTING MACHINE March 3.8, 1958 Original Filed Deo. 14, 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet F/G. /O

K INVENTOR HENRY A. 5K0@ MOORE, PRA/VGLEV 5 CLA V70/v Mrch 18, 3958 H. A. sKoG 238272988 FRUIT FITTING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 14, 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

HENRY A. SKOG MOORE) PRA/VGLEYQ' CLAYTON March i8, 1958 H. A. SKO@ v 327,088

FRUIT FITTING MACHINE original Filed Deo. 14. 195o 13 sheets-sheet 8 INVENTOR. HENRY ,4, 5K0@ BY MOORE, PRAA/GLE S CLAYTON ATTORNEYS March i8, M58 H. A. sKoG FRUIT PITTING MACHINE' Original Filed Deo. 14, 1950 l5 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR.

#l5/vnr A. s/os BY MOORE, PMA/@LEV 5 CLAYTON ATTORNEYS March I8, 1958 H. A. sKoG FRUIT FITTING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 14l 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR.

HENRY A. SKOG MOORE, PRANGLEY CLAYTON ATTORNEYS A 7' TORNEVS March 18, 1958 H. A. sKoG FRUIT FITTING MACHINE 13 Sheecs-SheeiI 1 l Original Filed Dec. 14, 1950 .N V @NN v l QN MN QR m A QN mm3 n. N E5 w www, I N f w mmw Y S2 3S, :mm

MOOREl PRANGLEYS CLAYTON March 8, 1958 H. A. sKoG FRUIT FITTING MACHINEV Original Filed DeC. 14, 1950 1254 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTOR.

HENRY' A. SKOG MOORE', PRANGLEY CLAYTON March 18, 1958 f H. A. sKoG 2,327,088

FRUIT FITTING MACHINE Original Filed Deo. 14, 1950 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 INVENTOR.

K HENRY A -sKoG MOORE, PRA/vm 5y j cLArO/v TTG/PNEYS United States 2,527,088 Patented Mar. 18, 1958 ice 2,s27,ess

Fnurr Pirineo Mscimrn Serial N o. 494,365

11 Claims. (Cl. 146-28) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing peaches and similar fruit.

The present application is a division of my co-pending application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 200,705, led December 14, 195i), entitled Fruit Treating Machine, issued April 16, 1957, as Patent No. 2,738,818 and is filed in response to a requirement for restriction.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a high speed fruit splitting, bisecting and sawing, pitting or deseeding machine; to provide, in a fruit splitting, bisecting and sawing, pitting or deseeding machine, Wherein the fruit is fed to the bisecting, pitting or deseeding mechanisms at a continuous uniform rate, new or improved means for spreading or separating the fruit halves after bisecting and While the fruit is being carried at such continuous uniform rate from the bisecting mechanism to the pitting or deseeding mechanism; to provide high speed pitting mechanisms traveling with and relative to a continuously moving fruit conveyor for ptting fruit without interrupting the movement of the conveyor; to provide new or improved traveling, it-ting mechanism and driving mechanism therefor for pitting fruit as it is being fed at a continuous uniform rate; to provide improved or simplified driving mechanism for a traveling, pitting mechanism.

These and other objects of the invention will be hereinafter more fully evident from a perusal of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary View in side elevation of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View in vertical section taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View in vertical section taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View in vertical section taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken along the line 7 7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view looking along the line 5 3 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in the horizontal section taken substantially along the line 9 9 of Fig. 1G;

Fig. l() is a fragmentary View in vertical section taken along the line id of Fig. 8;

Fig. 1l is a View in exploded perspective of a traveling carriage for the fruit holder or cup unit for the splitting, spreading and pitting mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the line 12 12 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a View in vertical perspective of the cup vactuating racks of the fruit holding unit or cups of Figs. 5 to 12;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged View in vertical section taken substantially along the line 14-14 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic View in elevation of the spreader unit of Fig. 14 illustra-ting the location of the cup control cam in relation to the spreader unit;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary plan View of the cup unit holding the peach;

Figs. 17 to 27 are operation diagrams illustrating the spreading of the fruit halves and the opening of the cups as Athey are conveyed past the spreader unit, Figs. 17,

19, 21, 23, and 27 being taken along position lines 17- 27 respectively, of Figs. 14 and 15;

Fig. 28 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along the line 28 28 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 29 is a fragmentary enlarged view in vertical secA tion taken substantially along the hne 2.9 29 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 30 is a fragmentary enlarged View in Vertical section taken along the line 30 3il of Fig. 3;

Fig. 31 is :a View in an exploded perspective of the parts of the mechanism shown in Figs. 28 to 30;

Fig. 32 is an enlarged View in vertical section taken substantially along the line 32 32 of Fig. 35;

Fig. 33 is a view in perspective of the frame casting of the pitter mechanism of Fig. 32;

Fig. 34 is a view in perspective of the mounting bracket of the pitter mechanism of Fig. 32;

Fig. 35 is an enlarged View in end elevation of the pit-ter mechanism along the line 35-35 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 36 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along the line 36 36 of Fig. 32;

Fig. 37 is an enlarged fragmentary view in horizontal section taken substantially along the line 37 37 of Fig. 35; and

Fig. 38 is a View in perspective of the supporting and 7 `actuating mechanisms of Figs. 28 to 37.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a preferred embodiment of la machine constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a machine frame having side plates 2 and 4 (Figs. 1 and 3) spaced apart by a plurality of cross members (not shown). Angle irons (not shown) extend crosswise of the side plates at the bottom thereof to form supporting feet for the machine frame.

A combined motor and speed reducer gear unit 29 (see Figs. 1 and 2) operates to drive through mechanism hereinafter described, a conveyor 39 for carrying the fruit to halving and pitting mechanisms. This conveyor 36 is an endless conveyor having a drive shaft 31 (Figs. 1 and 4).

The conveyor, fruit feeding mechanism or device 30 (Figs. 1 to 13) for feeding the oriented Whole fruits past the splitting, spreading and pitting mechanisms, preferably comprises an endless conveyor consisting of a pair of sprocket chains 22a and 22h passing `at the rear, discharge end of the machine over drive sprockets 35 and 37 adjustably secured, as by bolts 39 (Fig. 5) received in arcuate slots 39 in the sprockets, two collars 35 and 37 (Figs. 3 and 4) secured to a drive shaft 31 journaled in suitable bearing brackets 41 bolted to the side frame plates 2 and 4. The sprocket chains at their forward or feed-in end pass over sprockets 42' and 43' (Figs. 2 and 6) fastened to the cross shaft 33 mounted in bearings 45 bolted to the side frame plates 2 and 4.

An elongated casting 1346, Figs. 1 and 4, is bolted to the side frame plate 2 and has threaded into it a stud shaft 1347 (Fig. 4). A hand Wheel 1343 is mounted on the outer end of a rotatable sleeve 1349 on the stud shaft 1347, the sleeve being connectible by a manually operable clutch of any suitable construction to a drive pulley G 1359 journaled on the sleeve 1349. The sleeve 1349 is connected or fixed in any suitable manner to a gear 1351. T e pulley 1356 is driven through belt 1352 (Figs. l and i A f 2,ee'z,oss

2) from the slow speed shaft 29a of the combined motor and speed reducer 29. The gear 1351 meshes with and drives a larger gear 1353 journaled on a stud shaft 1354 carried by the casting 1346. The gear 1353 has attached to it a smaller gear 1355 which is also journaled on the stud shaft 1354, the gear 11353y meshing on one side with drive gear 1356, secured to one end of the conveyor drive shaft 31 and one the other side with a gear 1357 secured Y tothe outer end of a cross shaft 1358 journaled in suitable ybrackets bolted to the side frame plates 2 and 4.

The sprocket chains v22a and 22b, throughout their entire lengths, are provided with a series of equally spaced, whole fruit holders, cups or. supporting devices 1360 (Fig. 5). Y

Each wholefruit holder, cup or supporting device 1360 comprises a pair of half fruit holders, cups or cup sections 1362 and 1364, Figs. 8 to l0 and l2. The inner wall 1369 of each of these cups is conical .in form and the outer edges of Ythe rim ofeach cup are cut away or relieved as at 1371. Each cup section is an internally cone-shaped, half fruit holder when the cups are .open or partially open. The half cups when in horizontal lowered position, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and l0, form an open top, half fruit receptacle having conical internal surfaces. The two sections when in raised position, as illustrated in Figs. 5,V 6 and l2, form closed, whole fruit receptacles or clamps having opposed, conical, internal walls confronting each other along their base planes, but in spaced relation to a vertical plane coincident with the suture plane of the whole fruit.

The cup segments or sections 1362 and 1364 are formed integrally with lever arms 1366 and 1368 having bosses 1370 and 1372 (Fig.V 8) at their inner ends journaled on a shaft 1374.V The shaft 1374 is mounted in bosses 1376 Vof oppite end brackets 1378, the shaft being held against rotation with respect to the brackets as by set screws 1380. The brackets 1376 are mounted on a carriage 1382 shown in Figs. 9 to l1. This carriage comprises a central `dependent body portion or block 1384 (Fig. ll)V and laterally extending arm portions 1386 and 1388 extending oppositely from opposite diagonal corners of the central body portion or block 1384. The end portions 1300 and 1392 of the arms 1388 are offset oppositeiy so thatV their opposite side edges are aligned. Pairs of wheels or rollers 1394 are suitably journaled as at 1396 on each of the free ends of the portion 1390 and 1392V of the carriage. Carriage supporting shoes or slides`1398 are secured by screws or bolts 1400 to the under-surfaces of; the portions 1390 and 139-25 of the carriage. Chain attachment links 1402 and 1404 are bolted tothe under surface of theend portions 139,0 and 139,2 of the carriage Y arms isos and tsss, the chain attachment inns 14emeing secured by bolts 1405, see Fig.. l0, and the chain attachment links 1404 having their side flanges received in notches in the upper surfaces of the shoes 1398 and each Y secured to the carriage by one of the bolts 1400 by which its associated shoe is secured. It should be noted that the end portions 1390 and 1392 of the carriage arms 1386 and 1368 are recessed in their upper surfaces as shown in Fig. l() to receive they bottom portions of the cup segments 1362 and 1364 so that Vthe cup segments may be swung into an open horizontal or near horizontal position as shown in Fig. l0.

The cup halves 1362 and 1364 'are operated by racks 1406 and 1408, Figs..6, 9, l0 and 13, the rack 1406 being boltedto one edge of aslide block 1410 and extending upwardly therefrom while the rack 1408 is bolted to the opposite side edge of a like block 1412. An actuating roller 1414 is iournaled on a bolt threaded intothe side Vof the rack 1408 adjacent its lower end. The, blocks are secured'to a lateral extension or arm 1415 having spaced holes 1416 receivingnbolts,'1418` and 1420 fastening the parts.V The blocks 1410 and 1412 are formed on their inner Vsurfaces Vwith longitudinally extending guide slots 1422 and 1424 receiving guide projections or splines V1426 4 and 1428 respectively formed at diagonally opposite corners of the central body portion 1384 of the carriage. The mounting brackets V1378, Figs. 9 and ll, for the cup carrying shaft 1374 are formed with horizontal arms aperta ed to receive mounting bolts by which the .arms are secured to opposite edges of the arms 1386 and 1388 of carriage 1382. The brackets are also formed with -eces d sur `aces 1432 1434 of the central blc-ck 1304V a to form spaced guide surfaces for the slide i: me 1412 carrying the racks 1406 and 1408. Re "ses 1436 and 1438, formed in the edges of the arms- 133.6 and 1388, cooperate with the opposed side surfaces 1440 of the body portion 1384 to form guide surfaces for racks 1406 and 1408. Each Abracket 1378'is also the formed with a horizontal shelf portion 1450, see Fig. ll.

A spring 1452, Figs. 9, l0, l2 and 13, urges the cup segments to raised position or to a position substantially at right angles to the carriage 1382. This spring 1452 isV a coil spring which at its lower end encircles a pin 1454 and bears upon the extension or arm1415, see Figs. l0 and l2, and encircles at its upper end a pin 1456 and bears upon the underside of the shelf-like portion 1450 of the bracket 1373 with which the Yslide block 1412 is associated.

lt should be noted that the rack 1406 meshes withgear teeth 1460 (Figs. 8 and l0) formed on the mounting boss 1372 for the cup segment 1364 while the rack bar 1408 meshes with the gear teeth 1462 formed on the mounting boss for the cup segment 1362. Hence, as the racks 1406 1408 are lowered the cup segments 1362Y and 1364 are raised and as the racks 1406 and 1408 are raised the cup segments are lowered. Y

Each cup holder carriage 1382 is conlined or restricted, in its movements along the upper llights of the chains or conveyor, to a definite horizontal plane without deviation or deflection therefrom as it passes from the front end of the machine to the rear end of the machine between the sprockets 42' and 43', Figs. l, 5 and 6, and the drive sprockets 35 and 37, Figs. 1, 3 and 5. This confining, restricting or guiding of the movements of each carriage 1382 is accomplished by a pair of guide tracks 1464 and 1466, Figs. 3 and 5 to 7, mountedV Von the outer ends of brackets 1468 and 1470 respectively secured to the side frame plates 2 and 4. The guide tracks 1464 and 1466 cooperate with the slide shoes 1398 secured to the under surface of each carriage 1382, the shoes riding on the upper surfaces of the guide tracks 1464 and 1466 so as to support the carriage against movement in a downward direction. The rollers 1394 at the opposite sides of each carriage 1382 engage and roll along overhanging guide tracks 1472 and 1474, Figs. l and 5 to 7, supported on the outer end of brackets 1476 and 1478 respectively secured to the side frame plates 2 and 4. The guide tracks 1472 and 1474 serve as a guide confining the carriages against upward movement from the front to the rear of the machine along the upper flight of the chains or conveyor. It will be evident that Vtl'ieconiining or guiding tracks 1464, 1466, 1472 and 1474 serve not only a guiding function but also serve a clamping function in that they clamp the carriage against vertical movement so that by forces applied to the rollers 1414 or by springs 1452 to. the slide block 1412, the racks 1406 and 1408 may move up or down to swing the cup segments to the various positions. These tracks serveV also to takeV the load of the carriages off the chains,V so that relatively light sprocket chains or conveyors may serve to move the carriages Yand hence convey the fruit holders through their designed path. The movements ofthe carriages along the lower track of the chains or conveyor, from the rear to the front end of the machine, are guided and the carriages supported by tracks 1476 and 1478, Figs. 3 and 5, secured to the outer end of brackets 1480 and 1402m- .spectively secured to the side frame plates 2 and 4. The rollers 1394 of each carriage engage and roll on the upper surfacesrof the tracks 1476 and 1478 and thereby supo nding portions 1430, cooperating with the vertical,

port the weight of the carriages and thereby relieve the chains of that weight and decrease the bearing pressure on shafts 31 and 33. The cup segments are moved to open positions or to partially open positions, and allowed to move to closed positions as they are moved continuously along their endless path by a plurality of cam, guide or control tracks, engaging the rollers 1414, as best seen in Figs. 4 to 7. These tracks comprise a plurality of generally iiat tracks 1431, 1483 for controlling the cup segments, the track 1481 extending from a rear, inclined cam surface 1484 to a forward cam surface 1435 concentric to the axis of the shaft 33. The cam surface 1485 terminates in an abrupt, convex cam surface 1486 (permitting rapid closing of the cup sections). The cam surface 1486 is followed by a cam surface 1437, concentric to the shaft 33 and extending from surface 1486 to the flat track 1483.

A track 1490, adjacent the rear sprocket, controls the positioning of the two cup segments in partially open position for cooperation with the pitting or deseeding mechanism. This track is aligned longitudinally of the machine with track 1483 so as also to engage the actuating roller 1414 of the cup segments. This track 1496 has at its forward end an inclined, camming section 1492 which engages and raises the actuating rollers 1414. This track has also an intermediate recessed portion or surface 1494 which permits the actuating roller 1414 to drop down, thereby raising the cup segments slightly to position tthe fruit halves in proper engagement with the pitting mechanism. The track 1490 at its rear end merges into a curved track or surface 1496 which is concentric to the axis of the drive shaft 31. The guide surface 1496 may be provided by a disk or collar in which the shaft 31 is journaled but which is held against rotation by being pinned or otherwise secured to the stationary track 1490, the track 1496 being fixed to brackets 1500, Fig. 4, se-

. cured to the carriage track 1464. it should be noted that the portion 1502 of the track 1490 between the recessed portion 1494 and the arcuate surface 1496 is of greater height or thickness than the dat portion of the track in ad- Vance of the recess 1494 so that while the cup sections are partially opened as the cup control rollers 1414 reach the recess 1494 they are fully opened as the cup rollers 1414 pass from the recessed portion 1494. The arcuate surface 1496 retains the cup sections in fully open position as the rollers 1414 move around the drive sprockets 35 and 37. The tracks 1481 and 1483 may be secured in any convenient manner, as by brackets 1564, Fig. 4 (of which one only is shown) to the carriage track 1464, the tracks 1464 and 1466 having at their forward ends concentric circular surfaces interiitting concentric, recessed surfaces in the shoes 1398 as shown in Fig. 7.

A cam track 1505, Fig. 5, extending forwardly from the cam surface 1496 retains the rollers 1414 in lowered position until they pass forwardly beyond the shaft 31 and parts secured thereto.

In addition, an auxiliary control device, track or guide 1506 (Figs. 4 and 5) is provided for actuating the roller 1414 of the cup segments to supply an auxiliary additional tension to the cups during the splitting or sawing operation. The track 1506 comprises a bar extending longitudinally in alignment with the plane of the track 1433. Track 1506 is provided at its forward end with an inclined cam surface 1501 under which the roller 1414 is adapted to pass and to be depressed by the track as the cup carrier advances. The track 1506 is mounted on spaced bars 1512 and 1514, the bar 1512 being secured to a rod 1516 journaled in spaced brackets 1518 bolted to the under surface of the carriage track 1464. The bar 1514 is also secured to the rod 1516 but passes beyond said rod to overlie at its free end a coil spring 1519 which bears at its lower end on a washer adjustably mounted on a vertical rod 1520 (Fig. 5) supported by and upstanding from a bracket 1522 bolted to the side frame plate 2, the other end of the spring 1519, acting through the pivoted bar 1514 to depress the track 1506.

The splitting and .sawing mechanism and the separating and spreading mechanism The splitting or sawing mechanism 1236 comprises, as best shown in Figs. l, 2, 5 and 14, a rotary saw 1600 secured to a shaft or arbor 1602 which is journaled in an arbor housing 1664 that extends through a suitable opening in opstanding portion of the side plate 4. The arbor housing is secured to said side plate Vas by brackets 1666 bolted to the end of the arbor housing and also bolted to the side plate. The arbor shaft 1692 extends beyond the arbor housing 1694 on the right side of the machine as shown in Fig. 2 and has secured to it a pulley driven by a belt 1616 in turn driven by a pulley 1612 secured to the high speed shaft 29b of the combined motor and speed reducer 29. The shaft 1662 also has secured to it a iiy wheel 1614 which equalizes the rim speed `of the saw while the pit of the peach is being cut in two.

The saw arbor housing 1664 is also supported by a bracket 1616 having an upper horizontal plate portion 1618, Fig. l, bolted to the top plate 3 and a lower horizontal plate portion 1626 bolted to the saw arbor housing.

The separating or spreading mechanism 1283 comprises four stationary separating or deliecting blades or members 1622, 1624, 1626, and 1623, Fig. 14, the members 1622 and 1624 being formed at their rear ends with an integral cross member including a vertical wall 1636, Fig. 15, and a horizontal bar 1632. The bar 1632 is mounted on a cross member 1634 as by bolts 1636, the cross member 1634 being secured in any desired manner to the upstanding portions of the side plates 2 and 4. The spreader members 1622 and 1624 are adjustably connected and reinforced intermediate their ends by a cross rod 1638 received in notches in the upper ends of reinforcing straps 1649 spot welded or otherwise fixed to or formed integrally with the spreader members. The cross rod 1633 is adjustably secured to each of the straps 1640 by means of opposed clamping nuts 1642. By adjusting of the rod 1633 and the clamping nuts 1642 the spacing of the spreader members 1622 and 1624 maybe adjusted relative to the saw 1669 to obtain the proper |clearance between the saw and the spreader blade.

The front spreader members 1626 and 1623 comprise sheet metal members fastened .at their rear ends as by screws 1643 appropriately countersunk in the spreader plates 1626 and 1626 so as to be ilush with the surface of those plates. The spreader plates 1626 and 1623 closely approach at their forward ends the plane of the saw 1600 and may be beveled at their forward edges so that the fruit halves split or sawed by the blade 1660 pass readily from the saw blade onto the opposite surfaces of the spreading or deflecting members 1626 and 1628. The form of the spreader members or blades 1622, 1624, 1626 and 1628 will be evident from Figs. 14, l5, and 17 to 25. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 14, the spreader member formed by the spreading or deflecting blades 1622 and 1626 on the one side and the spreader member formed by the deecting blades 1624 and 1628 on the other side diverge from their forward to their rear end in a horizontal plane and as evident from Figs. 17 to 25, diverge from bottom to top in a vertical plane.

The forward end portions of the blades in horizontal sections are substantially parallel to the saw as can be seen in Fig. 14, and in vertical sections they diverge from bottom to top quite gradually, as will `be seen from Fig. 17. These forward end portions thus eect a gradual di vergence of the peach halves from the plane of the saw while they are engaged by or in contact with the splitting saw.

Just in advance of the transverse plane, represented turningof the peach Laives in the bythe sectionline 19--19 in Fig, 15.` the spreader bladesV 162,6 and 28;begin to bow or curve outwardly slightly, as illustrated in Fig. 19, and are thereafter yof constantly and gradually increasing curvaturein a vertical plane, as seen in Figs. 21 and 23, until the transverseV plane 2323 is reached, after which the spreader blades are of rapidly decreasing curvature, as seen in Fig. 25. Between the vertical planes, indicated by lines 23-23 to 25-25 in Fig. 15, the blades 1626-d28 andthe blades 1622-1624 diverge'in a horizontal plane at a uniform increment so as to etfect a uniform horizontal spreading of the peach halves end of-the Ycups in which the peach halves are carried. YThe forward end of the doubly-divergent, conveX portions of theV spreader blades merges gradually into the forward end portions ofthe spreader'blades, as shown in Fig. 14. The rear end portionsv of the spreader blades 1622 and 1624 are provided with horizontal wires 1644 to prevent the peach halves from turning in the cup sections as they approach the spread-apart. position which they will occupy during'the pitting operation.

Applicant has found that movable spreader blades or wings restrict or limit the capacity of a continuously movingY pitting machine and a smoother action in spreading the fruit and the carrying cupsV is necessary as the speed and hence the capacity of the machine are increased. t is dil'licult to illustrate the exact relative positions of the peach halves as the fruit is movedj along the spreader blades, as these positions will varyV somewhat depending upon the size of the peach. ln the illustrative diagrams of Figs. 17 to 27, the relative positions of the half peaches in the cups are represented for an average size peach of approximately 3" in diameter.

During the time the peach halves travel. over the spreader blades, 'the peach halves are pressed toward and into contact with the spreader blades by the spring 1452 which urges the cup sections toward each other.

In Figs. 17, 19, 2l, 23 and 25, the peach halves areY illustrated as though they were traveling on ahorizontally straight surface rather than on surfaces of continually increasing'divergence in a horizontal piane. These views, however, serve to show that as the peach travels along the horizontal path, each half peach turns in its cup onV a horizontal axis. hus, Vit will be notedrthat. as each half peach passes over its spreader blade surface, the distance between the edges 13 2b of the cup section i352 and the spreader blades i626 and 1622 decreases while the distance between therlower edge 3620 of the cup section. and those spreader blades increases. Similarly, as shown in Figs. 17, 19,21 and 23, as the opposite peach half travels horizontally along the spreader blades, the

distance between the upper cup edge 1364i; and the spreader blades leid and 1625i decreases while the distanceY between the spreader blades and the lower edge 1634s of this'cup section increases. .These distances decrease and increase respectively until the peach has reached the position shown in Fig. 25, after which the cup sections Yis prevented by the wires 1644.

Figs. 18, 2G, 22, 24 and 26 are plan views looking down uponv the peach half in the cup section 1364. 'From these views it will be noted that the distance between the leading edge A of the peach half and the' lea'dine4 edge Bead-of the cup section i364 decreases while the distancebetfeen the trailing edge l of the peach half and the trailing cup edge 136452 of the cup section 13154 increases as thepeach half moves along the spreader plates 162% and 162.4. lt will be understood that thek peach half in the cup section similarly moves in that cup section as exempliiied in Figs. 20, 22, 24 and 2o; "illus, asshown in these figures,.the peach .halves also turnin the cupsv on vertical axes. Experience in the use of thc machine clearly demonstrated that notwithstanding this turning ofithe peach Yhalves in the cups about both horizontal and vertical axes, the long axis of the pit is not i rn'oved out-of its predetermined 'position or orientation Vthe spreader blades.

withrrespect torthe `longitudinal vaxis of the machine. The` as fnlcrumpoints for .the turning of the peach halves about horizontal axes, which fulcrum Vpoints lie Vin the long axesV of the pits Yso thatthe long axes of theV pits in erf-ect serve as the horizontal axes of turning of the peach halves occasioned by the vertical divergence of As ,each half peach moves along thespreader blades, the flesh of each peach Ahalf slightly folds itself around the long curve of the spreader blades, keeping the long axis of each pit -in proper posiof orientation longitudinally ofthe-machine even though the peachis turned about vertical and horizontal axes relative tothe cup sections. l

in Fig. 17 the half peaches are shown Vas traveling across the surface ofthe spreader blades in advance of the curved portions thereof, at' which time the peach halves have just been released from'the effects of. the

Vadded pressure of'the spring i519 (Figure 5), and therefore do not start to turn in theVV cup sections .until the exposed surfaces of thehalf pits engage the crown points of the convex surfaces of the Vispreader blades.

As therpeach halves approachk theV positionshown in Figs. 25 and 26, the` roller 1414 for actuating .the cup sections reaches the inclined end M92 ofthe cam trac1 l-iil and the cup .sectionsV begin to swing outwardly under the action or" the cam tracl. Between thatrposif tion and the position shown Vin Fig'. 27, thepeach halves continue to move along surfaces of the diverging spreader blades which are substantially flat'in vertical section and the wires 1644 prevent turning 4of the peach halvesin the cup sections while the. continuing ydivergence of the spreader blades causes the peach halvesV to move out-' wardly or to be spread with the outwardly spreading cup sections so that the peaches remain fully seated. in the cup sections until said sections have been spread apart sufticiently for the peach halves to remain seated in the cup sections by the action of gravity.Y The wires 16447also establish restricted areas or zones of sliding contact between the spreader blades andpeach 'halves so as to overcome the tendency of the peach halves to ,stick to surfaces in which they are in face to face contact.

rl`he cut away leading edges 1371 of the cup sections, as illustrated in Fig. 16,'permit'smaller peaches -to be firmly held againstthe spreader blades. Applicant found that with the smaller peaches the cup sections, unless relieved along the leadingV edges, as shown in Fig. 16', would so conne or grip the peaches that could not turn relative to the cup sections while moving along the K peach halves would be out of line withthe stern blossom Applicant found that the reaxis of the half peaches. lieving of the leading edgesof the peach cups cured the ditliculty by enabling the smaller peaches to be held firmly against the spreader blades.

The pitting-0r dese-effing vmechanism The pitting, Vdes'eediug `or coring mechanism 129%, Fig.

1, comprises a traveling frame-1779,- best shown `in Figs. 33 and 3S. --As there shown, the frame 177i? comprises longitudinal bar portions'or arms 1772 and 1774 joinet" adjacent their forward ends by an integral cross bar 1776. Y

T he frame 1770 is pivotally mounted,VV by studsl is and 1779, on the upper-ends ofparallel links 173i?, 1782,

1784, and 1786, Figs. 1, 3, 4, 35 and '38. Theparalleli f links 1780 to.1786 inclusive' are'journaled on parallel 75*cross shafts 1783 and 1799, Figs.; 1 and 3, journaled ansiosa"- in suitable bosses provided in brackets such as 1792, Fig. 1, bolted to side frame plates 2 and 4.

The pitter headframe 1770 is moved forwardly with respect to the moving fruit cups (but rearwardly of the machine) from the rearward position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l to the forward position shown in full lines in said figure, by a stud 1794, Fig. 4, on which is journaled a cam roller 1796 (Fig. 28) received in an internal cam track 1797 of a cam 1798 secured to the end of the shaft 1358.

The pitter headframe carries a pair of knife mechanisms 1806 and 1808, Fig. 36; a pair of pitter pad and knock-out assemblies 1810 and 1812, Figs. 32 and 36, and a pair of pitter knife operating mechanisms 1814 and 1816, Fig. 35.

The pitter knife mechanisms 1806 and 1808 comprise four curved pitter blades or scoops 1818, 820, 1822 and 1824 mounted in pairs, the pitter blades 1818 and 1820 being bolted to bars 1826 and 1828 while the blades 1822 and 1824 are bolted to bars 1830 and 18.32. T he bars 1826 and 1828, Fig. 32, are formed with depending, right angle end portions forming bosses 1834 at one end and bosses 1836 and 1837 at the other end. The boss 1836 is pinned or otherwise secured to a shaft 1838 and the boss 1837 is pinned or otherwise secured to a sleeve 1840, the shaft 1838 being journaled in the sleeve 1840 and the sleeve 1840 being journaled in a boss 1842 formed in a bracket 1844, best shown in Fig. 34. The bracket 1844 has a generally triangular vertical portion 1846; a horizontal plate portion or shelf 1848, and bosses 1842 and 1850 formed integrally with the plate portion 1846 and at the base corners thereof.

The shelf 1848 rests upon the cross bar 1776 of the pitter head frame 1770 and is secured thereto as by bolts 1852, Figs. 35 and 38, received in slots 1854, Fig. 34, in the shelf 1848 and threaded into the cross bar 1776. Slots 1854 permit ready adjustment of the bracket 1844 laterally of the pitter head frame 1770 so that the pitter knife mechanisms 1806 and 1808 and the pitter pad assemblies 1810 and 1812 may, by adjustment laterally of the conveyor, be properly aligned with respect to the fruit cups. The pitter knife mounting bars 1830 and 1832 of the pitter knife mechanism 1808 are identical to the pitter knife mounting bars 1826 and 1828 of the pitter knife mechanism 1808 and are provided at one end with a boss (not shown) similar to the boss 1836 and a boss 1857, Fig. 37, similar to the boss 1837, these bosses being secured to a shaft 1858 and a sleeve 1860. Bars 1830 and 1832 are formed at their opposite ends with bosses, not shown, but similar to the bosses 1834 of bars 1826 and 1828. The bosses 1834 of the knife mounting bars 1826 and 1828 are journaled on a stud 1861, Fig. 32, bolted to the depending dange or leg 1862 of a mounting bracket 1863 having a horizontal plate portion 1864 extending over those knife mounting bars. The bracket 1863 is formed at its other end with an upstanding frange 1866 bolted to the vertical plate portion 1846 of the bracket 1844. The knife mounting bars 1830 and 1832 are similarly journaled on a stud 1870, Fig. 36, bolted to the depending rear leg of a bracket 1873 identical to the bracket 1863 and having a plate portion 1874 extending over the knife mounting bars 1830 and 1843. The bracket 1873 is also formed with an upstanding front end flange similar to the ange 1866 of the bracket 1863 and similarly bolted to the vertical plate portion 1846 of the common bracket 1844. As clearly seen in Fig. 36, the brackets 1863 and 1873 are so mounted that the plate portions 1864 and 1874 are inclined to the vertical at equal, opposite angles and are symmetrically disposed with respect to the central Vertical plane of the machine.

The pitter pad assemblies 1810 and 1812 comprise main hold-down pads or plates 1878 and 1880 respectively, contacting the exposed surfaces of the fruit halves when the fruit halves are properly positioned by the fruit cups. These main pads are centrally apertured, as at 1882 and 1884, to expose the pit or seed containing section of the fruit halves and permit passage of the pitting or deseeding knives into engagement with the exposed faces of the fruit halves and to pass around the pit or seed containing sections of the fruit halves. The main pad or plate 1880 is adjustably mounted by bolts 1886, Fig. 32, on the plate portion 1864 of the bracket 1863. The main pad 1878 is similarly, adjustably mounted by bolts, not shown, on the plate portion 1874 of the bracket 1873. The pitter pads may therefore be adjusted, by adjustment of the aforementioned bolts, toward and from the fruit holding cups so that the pitting mechanism, by change in the pitter blades, may be made to accommodate different grade-sizes of fruit halves. This adjustment also permits raising or lowering of the pads 1878 and 1880 so that the blades can be set to cut deeper or shallower depending on the size of pit.

The pad assemblies also comprise knock-out pads 1890 and 1892 positioned at the centers of the apertures 1882 and 1884 of the main pitting pads. The knock-out pads are threaded on plunger rods 1894 and 1896 to which are secured collars 1898 and 1900 slidably mounted in tubes 1902 and 1904 threaded into the plate portions 1864 and 1874 of the brackets 1863 and 1873. The plungers 1894 and 1896 are also slidably mounted in apertured plugs 1906 and 1908 threaded into and closing the upper ends of the tubes 1902 and 1904. Coil springs 1910 and 1912 are interposed between the collars 1898 and 1900 and the plugs 1906 and 1908 and therefore normally urge knock-out pads 189.0 and 1892 downward so that their lower surfaces are normally disposed below the planes of the lower surfaces of the main pads 1878 and 1880. The springs of the knock-out pad assemblies readily yield as the fruit halves are brought by the raising of the cups into engagement with the main pads s0 that the knock-out pads are moved upwardly to have their lower surfacs in the planes of the lower surfaces of the main pads when the fruit halves are brought into engagement with the main pads, as shown in Fig. 36. These knock-out pad assemblies apply, through the pits or seed sections of the fruit halves, compressive forces on the esh of the fruit halves in the paths of the pitting knives so that the pitting halves may make a clean cut about the pits or seed containing sections. On dropping of the cups away from the main pitter pads, after the pitting has been accomplished, springs 1910 and 1912 push the knock-out pads out or downwardly to free the fruit halves from the main pads should they tend to stick thereto.

The pitter knife operating mechanisms 1814 and 1816, Fig. 35, comprise gear segments 1914-4916 and 1918-1920, respectively. The gear segments 1914 and 1918 are pinned to the shafts 1838 and 1858 and the gear segments 1916 and 1920 are pinned to the sleeves 1840 and 1860. The central portion of the segmental gear 1918 is eiset from the toothed rim thereof, as shown in Fig. 37, so as to interiit with the segmental gear 1920 and permit the teeth of the segmental gears 1918 and 1920 to lie in the same plane transverse to the axis of the shaft 1858 and sleeve 1860. The segmental gears 1914 and 1916 are similarly intertted so that the teeth thereof lie in the same plane transverse to the axis of the shaft 1838 and the sleeve 1840.

The segmental gears 1914, 1916, 1918 and 1920 intermesh with rack bars 1922, 1924, 1926 and 1928 respectively, the rack bars 1926 and 1928 being bolted, as shown in Fig. 37, to a cross head 1930 and the rack bars 1922 and 1924 being similarly bolted to a cross head 1932. The cross head 1932 is bolted at its upper end to a rack bar 1934, Fig. 32, slidably mounted in guides formed by the front face of the upstanding arm of a bracket 1938 and side bars 1940, Fig. 35, bolted to the upstanding arm of the bracket 1938. The bracket 1938 clamping nuts 2028 and Y2030.

11 Y Y is provided with Van inturnedfootportiongor .ang'e 1942Y secured tothe shelf 1848 as by'bolts 19414. The cross head k1930 is similarly bolted Vat its Vupper endto rack bar 1936, Fig. 35, slidably mountedin guides formedby the front face ofthe upstanding arm of a bracket 1.939

bars 1946, the bracket 1939 being mounted on the shelf 1848 of the bracket 1844 in the same manner as is the bracket 1938.

The cross heads are raised by spring action, following f a pitting operation, to return the pitting knives to open position. For that purpose the cross heads 1930 and 1932 are provided with threaded rods 1954 and 1956 threaded into lateral lugs, as 1958 and1959, of the cross heads. These rods are slidably mounted inV the'shelf portions of brackets 19.60 and 1962 which are bolted to the brackets 1938 and 1939 and are provided with suitable slots permitting'passage of the rack bars 1934 and 1936. v VThe rods 1954 and 1956 are encircled, above the shelves of theV brackets 1960 and 1962, by coil springs 19,64 and 1966 whichbear atV their lower Vends on the Y shelvesof the brackets 1960 and 1962 and at their upper ends on washers underlying nuts 1968 and 19569 threadedV on the upper ends of the rods. The cross heads 1938 and 1932 are movedrdownwardly against the action of the springs 1964 and 1966, by segmental gears 1970 and 1972,.Figs. 31 and 34,v meshing with the rack bars 1934 and 1936, as illustrated in Fig. 32. Thersegmental'gears 1970 and 1972 are fastened to shafts 1974 and 1976 respectively (Figs..3l and 35), which are journaledV in bosses formed at the upper ends of the brackets 1938 and 1939 and are axially aligned.V The shaft 1974 is adjustably connected to the shaft 1976 Vby means of a lever 1978 fastened tothe shaft 1974 and a lever 1988 fastened to the shaft 1976. Lever 1980 is prefera ly 3 similar to the bracket 1938 and between the side guide formed with a split boss 1982 clamped to the shaft 1976 Y bythe bolt 1984. The lever 1980 is formed with an' arcuate slot 1986 receiving a clamping bolt 1988 threaded into an aperture 1990 in the lever 1978. A setV screw 1992Vreceived in a threaded aperture extending through the side of the lever 1980 communicating Vwith Vthe slotV 1986, provides means for adjusting clamping bolt 1988 arcuately of the lever 1980 and hence serves to adjust the lever 1978 relative to the lever 1980. The set screw 1992 is held in adjusted position as by clamping nut 1994.

The shaft 1976 is also journaled in a'boss 1996 of a bracket 1998 bolted to and upstanding from a generf ally triangular supporting plate 2000 secured to the pitter head frame 1770, as by the bolts 1779 which pivotally connectthe frame carrying links 1784 and 1786 to the pitter head frame, Vas shown in Fig. 38.

A cam 2002,'Figs. 4 and 28, secured adjacent the pitter head actuating cam 1798 operates a pitter knife actuating lever 2004. The lever 2004 is pivoted'intermediate its ends on a stud 2006 supported by brackets 2008 and 2010 bolted to the side frame plate 4. The lever 2004 carries at its lower end a stud on which is journaled a cam roller 2012, the lever being urged in a counterclockwise direction,'as seen in Fig.j28, so as to'maintain the cam roller 2012 in engagement with the am'2002 by coil spring 2014 encircling a rod 2016 pivoted at one end to the lever 2004'and slidably mounted in anV outwardly extending arm of a Abracket 2018 Vbolted to the side frame plate 4V. The spring 2014 bears at one end against the bracket 2018'and at the other end'against an annular shoulder 2020 formed on the rod 2014. The lever 2004 is connected :to audac- Vtuates the shaftr1976, and through it the Vshaft' 1974, by

an internally threaded coupling 2022 pivoted to Ythe upper end of the lever 2004; aY coupling '2024 adjustably connected Vas hereinafter' described to the shaft V1976v and a to the shaft 1358 threaded adjusting rod 2026 threaded into the couplings.'V

2022V and Y2024 vand Yheld in adjusted position by the k"The coupling 2,024 is adjustably connected to lthczshaft." 1976 by means Vof a lever 2032A journaled onthe'shaftf 1976 and a lever 2034 preferably formedwith', assplit the Vbut permits the coupling and 4bushingr to rotate relatively. A nutA 2048 on the'othere11djoftht".-V bolt clamps the bolt and bushing in adjusted positiongin the slot 2844 or the lever 2032. A set screw 20570-threadjed',

the lower end of the lever and projecting -into'fthej into 284e provides means for adjustinglthe bolt 2042 longitudinally of the slot to vary theangle' of throw-pcf the lever 2832 and thereby vary the angle of swingof the pitting blades actuated by the shafts 1974v andf1976fi The usual clamping nut 2852 retains the set Vscrew 2050 in adjusted position. The lever2034 is formed with an arcuate slot 2054 receiving a bolt 205'6vthreaded in'an; A set Vscrew 2060; threaded into an aperture in the edgeA of the lever projects`V into the slot 2854 so as to adjust the bolt `27056 relative.

aperture 2058' in the lever 2032.

to the lever 2834. Y

1t should be noted, asV shown in Fig. 29, the slot 2044` in the lever 2832 is in vertical positionwhen thepitting Y Y' blades are closed around the pit. Consequently, adjustrnent of the stud bolt 2042 up or down Vin the,` slot 'do'esl not change the position of the blades when'closed under the pit but allows the blades to open to a greater or lesser extent depending on the direction of adjustment `.of the stud bolts in the slot. On loosening of thebolts 19.88

and 2056 the set screws1992 and 2060 may be, adjusted to cause the pitting blade units 1806 and 1808 to operate together, that is, to cause the blades of the twounitsy to close the same amount and to open the sameamount.

it should be noted that the cup closingrspring 1452V supplies a compressive force urging the cut surfaceslof the fruit halves into engagement with the apertured plates 1878 and 1888 of theV pad assemblies `1810jand181.2. Auxiliary means 2062, Fig. l, provides additional or', auxiliary compressive forcesk urging the cutV facesfof the fruit halves into engagement Vwith the aperturedLPitt-ing i pads during the swinging of the pitting knives about thel half pits. This means 2G62 comprisesgas best shown in- Figs. l, 35, 35 and 38, brackets 2064 'and 20'66 bolte'dfto j the longitudinal arms 1772jand 1774 of ,thejpit'ter headV frame 1770. Each of these brackets is formedv with itegral spaced depending arms 2068 terminatingat thei'rl A shaft 2072 is .journaled'in the bosses 2870 of the bracket 2864 and ash'aft 2074 is lower ends in bosses 2070.

cup sections 1362 and 1364 upwardly and toward'the apertured pitting pads 1880 and 1878, as illustrated in- Figs. 35 and 36, when the shafts 2072 and 2074 are actuated. The shaft 2072 is actuated by means of ar'yoke 2884 having at one end a boss` 2086v fastened to the shaft 2072 while its other end is connected by a universal joint 2888 toV a vertical actuating rod 2890. VThe shaft 2074 is Y connected with the actuating yoke 2084 for simultaneous actuation of the shaft 2072 by means of a lever 2092 pinned to the forward end of the shaft 2074 and connected by a pitman or rod 2094 to a lever 2096 which f. may be formed integrally with the actuating yoke 2084,

the rod 2094 being pivoted at its opposite ends to the levers 2892 and 2096. The vertical actuating rod 2098 is slidably received relatively adjacent itsV lower end in'-vr a block 2098 pivoted Aon an axis transverse to the'rodi l The pivot studsrfor the block 2098 are received in suitable 413 apertures in the outer end of a lever 2100 and in a block 2102 riveted or bolted to the lever 2100. A coil spring 2104 is interposed between a collar 2106 bearing against the under surface of the block 2098 and a nut 2108, Fig. l, threaded on the lower end of the actuating rod 2090. he lever 2100 is pivotally mounted on a headed stud or 2110 secured to the side frame plate 2 and carries cam roller 2112 operated b" an actuating cam 2114 Uy -t ned to a shaft 2116 journaled in a suitable bracket, ot shown, secured to the side frame plate 2. The shaft 116 is provided with a drive gear 2118 to mesh with ie chain conveyor drive gear 1356. The cam roller 2112 is maintained in engagement with the cam 2114 by a coil spring 2120 mounted on a rod 2122 slidably mounted in the laterally extending shelf of a bracket 2124 fastened to the side frame plate 2. The coil spring 2120 is interposed between a spring retainer carried by the shelf of the bracket 2124 and a nut and washer 2126 secured to the upper portion of the rod 2122, the rod being secured at its upper end to a yoke 2128 pivotally secured to the lever The coil spring 2120 serves not only to maintain the roller 2112 in engagement with the cam 2114 but also, being normally stronger than the spring 2105i, serves normally to maintain the rod 2090 in elevated position so that the rollers 2080 and 2082 are out 9 the path of the traveling pitter cups. The spring 2120 upon the rod 2090 through the lever 2100 and a collar 2130 adjustably fastened to the rod 2090. When e cam 21rd depresses the roller 2112, and thereby depresses the lever 2100, the spring 2120 is rendered ineffective to urge the rod 2090 upwardly and the spring 2184i is compressed thereby urging the rod 2090 downwardly and thereby rotating the shaft 2072 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 38, while rotating vthe shaft 2074 in a clockwise direction, as seen in the same figure, so that the rollers 2080 and 2082 engage the cup sections 1362 and 1364 and thereby apply the additional compressive force of the spring 2104 to the fruit halves thus urging the cut surfaces of the fruit into still firmer engagement with the apertured pitting plates 1878 and Operation of the machine The combined motor and speed reducer 29 continuously drives the conveyor 30, as previously described, by continuously rotating the shaft 31 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. l, to cause the upper flights of the conveyor chains 22a and 22h to pass from the sprockets 412 and 43 (Figs. l, 5, 6 and 7) to the sprockets 35 and 37 (Fig. 3).

Peaches are oriented as to suture plane and fed into the cup units 1360 of the conveyor 30, as described in my Patent No. 2,788,818 aforesaid, with the suture plane of the peach coincident with the plane of the saw.

As a cup unit 1360 approaches the forward end of the second conveyor the cup actuating roller 1414 of that unit engages the cam track 1484, thereby opening the cup unit which therefore remains in open position until the roller 1414 reaches the cam surface 1486, Figs. an-d 7. As the cam roller 1414 passes over the cam surface 1486 the cup unit 1360 is closed by the action of its spring 1452 so as to engage and grip the peach at the instant that the transfer mechanism described in said Patent No. 2,788,- 818 deposits the peach therein.

The cup unit 1360, having grasped the peach in its suture plane coincident with the central longitudinal plane of the machine, carries the fruit then past the rotating saw which splits the liesh and pit of the fruit along the suture, the saw being positioned in the central vertical plane of the machine. The cup unit then carries the fruit halves over the doubly divergent and curved stationary spreader blades 1620 to 1628, as previously described, to spread apart the fruit halves and the cup sections in which the fruit halves are contained, all as shown in Figs. 17 to 27, the fruit halves turning in vand relative to 14 the cup sections about a vertical axis and about a horizontal axis substantially about the point of contact of the hard pit with the crown of the vertically curved portion of the spreader blades. The wires 1644, Figs. 15 `and 25, preclude further turning of the fruit halves as the fruit is carried past the rear portion of the spreader blades 1622 and 1624 and serve to break the suction between the sticky cut surfaces of the llesh of the fruit halves and the surfaces of the spreader blades. As the fruit halves pass along the wires 1644, the actuating roller 1414 moves into engagement with the inclined track section 1492 and the cup sections are swung to open position, as shown in Fig. 27, so as to pass beneath the traveling pitter frame 1770 and below the pitter pad assemblies 1810 and 1812. The pitter headframe, mounted on the pivoted links 1780 and 17855-, in moving forwardly at the same rate as the continuously moving half fruit cups 1362 and 1364, traverse an arc of movement, of which the highest point is at the end of the forward movement of the pitter headframe. By the time the roller 1414 of the fruit cup unit 1360 reaches the entering end of the notch 1484 in the cam track 1490, the half peaches are Vertically aligned with the pitting pad assemblies and the cup closing spring 1452 swings the half fruit cups upwardly to bring the cut surfaces of the fruit halves into engagement with the apertures of the fruit engaging pads 1878 and 1880, as shown in Fig. 36, which, if the halves be tilted in the cups, re-center them with the cup walls. During the movement of the actuating roller 1414 through the notch in the cam track, the cam 2114, Fig. 38, causes rotation of the shafts 2072 and 2074 in such direction as to bring the rollers 2080 and 2082 into engagement with the cup sections 1362 and 1364 and thereby apply the additional spring pressure, provided by spring 2104, to the fruit cups and therethrough to the fruit halves thereby to increase the compressive forces urging the esh of the fruit against the apertured pitting pads 1878 and 1880. While the fruit halves are thus rmly pressed against the apertured pitting plates, cam 2002 actuates the shafts 1974 and 1976 so that the gear segments 1970 and 1972 are rotated in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figs. 3l and 32, thereby to raise the crossheads 1930 and 1932 and to cause opposite swinging movement of the blades of each pitting mechanism so as to cut around the pit and meet beneath the pit, all as heretofore described. The knock out pads 1890 and 1892 engage the pit halves, as shown in Fig. 36, and by the pressure exerted on the pits, urge the pits toward the path of movement of the pitting knives, and so compress the iiesh of the fruit about the pit that a minimum pitting cut is made by the pitting knives, and a clean uniform nonjagged cut made by the knives through the esh of the fruit about the pit.

The pitting knives having completed their movement, the cup actuator roller 1414 reaches the section 1502 of the cam track 1490 thereby again swinging the cup sections outwardly to open position and away from pitting pad assemblies, while the cam 2114 actuates the lever 2100 to swing the rollers 2080 and 2082 out of the path of the cup units as they move downwardly, and the cam 2002 causes the pitting blades to swing from closed position to open position. As the pitting blades move to open position the springs 1910 and 1912 force the knock out pads 1890 and 1892 outwardly, thereby ejecting the half pits from between the pitting blades. The fruit cup units 1360 continue their movement toward the rear of the machine, while the cam 1798 causes the pitter headframe 1770 to reverse its direction of movement and return to its starting position in time to meet and again move forwardly with the next oncoming cup unit. .As

the cup unit carries the simultaneously pitted fruit halves past the rear end of the second conveyor, the fruit cups being in open position, the pitted fruit halves are discharged by gravity from the cups onto a suitable receptacle or into a suitable conveyor or belt by which they 

